136 PRESERVATION OF CANADIAN TIMBER. [Dec. 



The Introducer of Bees into Ireland. — In a paper delivered 

 at a meeting of the North-East of Ireland Beekeepers' Association, 

 held on Friday, 7th ult., at Lurgan, the Eev. Mr. Lett stated that 

 bees had been introduced into Ireland, in the si.xth century, by a 

 certain St. Dominick, who had previoufsly been taught their culture 

 by St. David in "Wales. Before this, swarms of bees had never been 

 seen in Ireland. 



The " Joint Worm " and the American Wheat. — It appears 

 that the wheat crop of Kew York State is being injured by the well- 

 known " joint worm " (Isosomcc hordei, Harris), previously noticed in 

 1829. If the sample of wheat sent to the State entomologist was 

 a fair representative of the product of the infested field, it would 

 appear to have fallen from GO to 75 per cent, below its nominal 

 yield. 



PRESERVATION OF CANADIAN TIMBER. 



THE past season is one which has been fruitful in losses to the 

 Canadian lumbermen, who have been cutting down and ship- 

 ping to Great Britain far more of their woods than we can make 

 iise of. The result has been too often ruin to themselves and waste 

 of valuable timber, which, if it had been allowed to grow, and been 

 cut just as the markets required, would have been a source of profit 

 instead of loss. The system of leasing the right to cut timber at a 

 low rate of royalty, or, as it is called there, stumpage, is one which 

 is in every way calculated to foster and encourage over-production. 

 And until this evU is in some way remedied, and leaseholders are 

 given a more determinate title to their timber lands, over-production 

 wiU continue until exhaustion of the supply renders this impossible. 

 So far, however, from an increase of stumpage being attempted by 

 the Governments of the Canadian Provinces, we hear that the lum- 

 bermen are already asking for a reduction on the ground of bad 

 times. AVe hope the Government will have determination enough 

 to refuse these unreasonable demands, and the lumbermen be made 

 to understand that the standing timber must, as far as possible, be 

 preserved ; and that they must pay for it, whatever it is worth. The 

 sooner the care of the Canadian forests are withdrawn from the 

 arena of politics, the better for all concerned. We hope speculations 

 in Canadian timber leases will be discountenanced in every way by 

 the Provincial Governments, and that these authorities will take 

 some effective measures to find out how much timber they have on 

 their public lands, and how it can best be preserved and protected 

 and rendered a means of profit not only to the public, but also to 

 the individual. 



